Scientists discover how brain cells age

September 13, 2012

Experts previously identified the molecular pathway that reacts to cell damage and stems the cell’s ability to divide, known as cell senescence. However, in cells that do not have this ability to divide, such as neurons in the brain and elsewhere, little was understood of the aging process.

Now scientists at Newcastle University, led by Professor Thomas von Zglinicki, have shown that neurons in fact follow the same pathway as senescing fibroblasts, the cells that divide in the skin to repair wounds.

This challenges previous assumptions on cell senescence and opens new areas to explore in terms of treatments for conditions such as dementia, motor neuron disease (ALS), and age-related hearing loss.

Working with the University’s special colony of aged mice, the scientists have discovered that aging in neurons follows exactly the same rules as in skin cells and other cells.

DNA damage responses essentially reprogram senescent fibroblasts to produce and secrete a host of dangerous substances including reactive oxygen species (ROS — a type of free radical) and pro-inflammatory signalling molecules. These substances can damage intact cells in their neighborhood.

“We will now need to find out whether the same mechanisms we detected in mouse brains are also associated with brain aging and cognitive loss in humans,” said von Zglinicki, professor of Cellular Gerontology at Newcastle University. We might have opened up a shortcut towards understanding brain aging, should that be the case.”

I find it interesting that the cells that we love to use in making pluripotent stem cells follow the same course in aging. It indicates that the underlining mechanism is the same for all cells. Find the answer for one and you can stop aging in the all.

Thanks, though what made it fun was how the term “exactly” exacerbated the contrast between certainty and the uncertainty at the end.
At least that is what my humor chip detected and it can be faulty sometimes, as you can see.

I can prove it wrong in the original language as well :-) In fact this is why I insist on never reading or watching translated / transcribed / dubbed / interpreted material, because then I not only HAVE to correct the author, but the translator as well ! I’ve learnt Russian before indulging in Dostoyevsky.

You should be Mr. you should definitely be. Don’t you want to last long enough to last forever? (or something to that effect)